Cook County Personal Injury Lawyer - Toxic Substances

Glen Ellyn youth hockey tournament evacuated due to carbon monoxide poisoning

Barry Doyle — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:46:25 GMT

Carbon monoxide is a deadly gas that can cause serious short and long-term health problems. Unfortunately, the danger is even more serious since the gas has no smell, taste, or color to identify it by, so people can be exposed to it for long periods of time without realizing that anything is wrong.

A recent accident at an Illinois ice-rink only further illustrates the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning, and the need for increased safety measures concerning the gas. According to the Chicago Tribune:

Thirteen people were taken to area hospitals after they were overwhelmed by carbon monoxide fumes at [an ice rink] near Glen Ellyn, according to the Glen Ellyn Volunteer Fire Company.

Another 29 were treated at the scene and released. None of the injuries was considered serious.

Fire crews responded to the ice rink about 5:30 p.m. after a number of people complained of headaches, dizziness and vomiting, fire spokesman Craig Eldridge said.

Several hundred people were inside the rink for a teen ice hockey tournament, he said.

As of now, the cause of the carbon monoxide leak is still unknown.

While early reports do insist that all those affected by the gas are only suffering short-term affects, it is important to be aware of the long-term health effects of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Carbon monoxide works by changing the level of oxygen in the bloodstream, which results in cellular death and organ damage. The most serious affect of carbon monoxide poisoning is death, which can occur gradually or within minutes, depending on the concentration of the fumes being inhaled. The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:

Red colouration of skin due to lack of oxygen

Shortness of breath

Nausea and vomiting

Headaches

Dizziness

Fatigue

Light-headedness

Weakness

Muscle fatigue and general fatigue

Chest pain

Loss of consciousness

Short of death, carbon monoxide poisoning can also cause long-term damage to the brain, which thus cause memory, coordination, and vision impairment; headaches; and behavioral and personality changes. Carbon monoxide can also have an adverse affect on other parts of the body, such as the heart and bladder. While many of these symptoms may wear off after long periods of time, damage to the brain and some other organs is often permanent.

The silver lining in this ice-rink incident is that there were many people that all experienced the same symptoms at the same time, which alerted authorities to the problem relatively quickly. Since carbon monoxide is a "silent killer", many people often are killed by it simply because they were exposed to for long periods of time it in their home without realizing it. They write off the symptoms of headaches or nausea as being incidental, never knowing that these are warning signs of a much graver issue.

If you begin to experience any of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, or if multiple members of your household start experiencing these symptoms, you should immediately get your house checked for a gas leak. It is difficult to do on your own, but a professional will be able to help you. It is also important for you to educate your friends and family about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning, so they can help themselves, and then pass the knowledge on. Knowledge is power, especially against a "silent killer" like carbon monoxide.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Barry Doyle

Running engines in garage poses carbon monoxide risk to people in the house

Barry Doyle — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:30:57 GMT

Two recent news stories show that it is not safe to leave gas powered equipment running in the garage. This allows carbon monoxide into the house, putting residents of the house at risk for death or serious injuries from carbon monoxide poisoning.

In Connecticut, two men suffered carbon monoxide poisoning after they left a generator running in an adjoining garage. When firefighters arrived, themeters on their carbon monoxide detectors showed that the carbon monoxide levels exceeded the 500 ppm maximum amount that could be measured on their equipment. Levels over 35 ppm are considered hazardous.

In Florida, a woman could not shut the engine off on her SUV, so she left it running and shut the garage door and went into the house. Carbon monoxide fumes seeped into the house, killing her daughter and another girl who was spending the night.

The lesson to be taken from these events is that it is extremely dangerous to leave gas powered equipment running in the house, even the adjoining garage. Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless, so it is virtually impossible to detect without a carbon monoxide detector. If there are no carbon monoxide detectors present, gas powered equipment such as generators or cars can create enough carbon monoxide gas to cause death and serious injuries.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Barry Doyle

Class Action Lawsuits

Kristina Labanauskas — Thu, 21 May 2009 12:20:00 GMT

We hear about class action lawsuits all the time. Victoria’s Secret. Vioxx. The list goes on… Most recently in Illinois, a class action lawsuit has been filed against the Village of Crestwood in regards to its supplying contaminated drinking water to its residents.

So, what is a class action lawsuit? Class actions are lawsuits brought by one or more people on behalf of a group of people who have been harmed by the party being sued. These types of lawsuits differ from private lawsuits. In certain circumstances, class actions may be the best fit in terms of the type of lawsuit to pursue. However, not all cases are appropriate or best-suited for this type of a lawsuit. The time to settle or resolve varies as much in a class action as in a private lawsuit. Making the decision on what type of case to pursue is very case specific and depends largely on the facts of the case or cases.

When many people have been wronged with minimal damages, a class action may be the best fit. For example, if a bank charged illegal fees to millions of people, and each person only suffers a $50 loss, it would not make much sense to pursue one cause of action to recover $50. It simply would be too time consuming and costly to do so. However, in this situation, a class action lawsuit would be appropriate and cost-effective. Additionally, courts may benefit from the filing of a class action, as filing one large lawsuit as opposed to many smaller lawsuits puts less of a burden on the courts.

The disadvantages of class actions include lack of control over how suit is handled and being included in the class even without receipt of notice of the cause of action. If you have been significantly injured, physically or financially, a private lawsuit route might suit you better. Many people might not be aware of their opportunity to opt out of a class, however, and might not know of their rights. For these reasons, it is essential that you consult a legal professional to discuss your options.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Kristina Labanauskas

Village of Crestwood Supplies Contaminated Water to Residents

Kristina Labanauskas — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:57:00 GMT

A Chicago Tribune investigation revealed that for more than 20 years, residents of Crestwood, Illinois, have been unknowingly drinking contaminated tap water. The water was contaminated with toxic chemicals linked to cancer and other health problems.

At least 22 years ago, state environmental officials advised Crestwood village officials that dangerous chemicals related to a dry-cleaning solvent had contaminated water in a certain well. Despite this advisement, the Crestwood officials continued to use the well, seemingly to cut costs.

In 1986, Crestwood officials told state regulators that the well would only be used in emergency situations and that all its water would be taken from Lake Michigan. Alarmingly, however, records reveal that Crestwood routinely continued to draw water from the contaminated well. In fact, in certain months, up to 20% of Crestwood’s water supply was taken from this well.

In 2007, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tested this water for the first time in 20 years. The EPA found that the well was still contaminated and that Crestwood had continued to supply residents with the untreated, contaminated water. As a result, the EPA issued two citations to Crestwood for violation of environmental laws, and the well was finally turned off for good. Despite this, the EPA has not yet notified people who drank from the well all those years, and the investigation is still under way.

It is unknown if the contaminated water in fact contributed to any health problems. State officials maintain the risks were minimal because the well water was heavily diluted with treated lake water, though dilution is generally not acceptable to ensure safe drinking water. One of the chemicals found in the well was vinyl chloride, and there was more than twice the legal limit for drinking water found in the well. According to the EPA, there is no safe level of exposure to vinyl chloride.

Crestwood finally shut off the well after the EPA gave them the choice of doing so or paying for expensive treatment to limit chemical exposure.

If you think you may have been exposed to contaminated water in Crestwood, contact a legal professional to discuss whether you should pursue a cause of action.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Kristina Labanauskas

CDC releases report on Great Lakes pollution, health risk connection

Kristina Labanauskas — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:40:00 GMT

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a report Tuesday that there is not enough evidence to connect industrial dumping contamination throughout the Great Lakes to specific health threats.

Last year, a draft version of the same report was leaked to the press.

That version linked records of historical contamination and ongoing pollution with health databases documenting cancer rates and other diseases.

Although the recent report avoids the specific links, it does stress that industrial pollution poses risks to public health and the environment. In fact, scientists have documented many areas around the Great Lakes contaminated with such highly toxic substances as PCBs, mercury and dioxins.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Kristina Labanauskas